We are almost at the half way point to this MLB season. It's time to look at the mid-season awards as determined by me.  There is going to be some close battles for these as the season progresses but here is what I have at this point.

AL MVP - Josh Hamilton (Rangers) - Hamilton has been the best player in the AL this year hands down.  This might have been more of a runaway is he didn't miss any time to injury.  Hamilton ranks in the top 5 of all 3 triple crown categories.  He leads all of baseball with 64 RBI and third in baseball with 22 homeruns (only 1 behind the major league leaders Adam Dunn and Jose Bautista).  His .319 batting average is good for 4th in the American League.  He leads the AL in slugging percentage and OPS and ranks in the top 10 of the AL in runs scored, on base percentage

NL MVP -  Joey Votto (Reds) - Votto is a machine right now as he gets the nod for my NL MVP right now.  Votto checks into tonight's action with 14 homeruns, 47 RBI and a .359 batting average which is 1 point below David Wright for the league lead. He has 30 doubles which is 6 ahead of David Wright who is second in the league. Like Hamilton Votto leads the NL in slugging and ops and also has a 29 point lead in the on base percentage category.

AL Cy Young - Justin Verlander (Tigers) - This is a really hard award to pick because there are a hand full of pitchers who have has worthy seasons.  I go with Verlander because of the way he dominates the game.  Verlander has an 8-4 record which isn't gaudy but his league leading 113 strikeouts and a WHIP under 1 (0.97) cant be ignored.  Verlander is 4th in the AL with a 2.52 ERA.  I can recall a couple of games off the top of my head where he pitched well enough to win so you can't always just look at the wins column.  Verlander is a workhorse as he leads the league with 117.2 innings pitched.  That is nearly 10 innings more than C.C. Sabathia.

NL Cy Young - Matt Cain (Giants) and R.A. Dickey (Mets) - This was too hard to pick beause there really is not much of a difference in the numbers between two guys who have dominated hitters all season long.  Dickey has the edge with 11 wins to Matt Cains 9 but after that you see almost two identical pitchers who pitch with different styles.  Cain has 107 strikeouts, a 0.90 WHIP and a 2.27 ERA. Dickey has 106 strikeouts, a 0.91 WHIP and a 2.31 ERA.  It is remarkable when you look at the numbers how similar they are.  I do believe one will seperate from the other or perhaps someone else can emerge in the 2nd half but at this point I give it a tie.

AL Rookie of the Year - Mike Troute (Angels) - Troute has energized the Angels sice his call up and is the clear choice for Rookie of the Year in the AL at this point.  Troute boasts an impressive .338 batting average, 7 homeruns, 29 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 13 doubles.  you will find his name at or around the top of every rookie category.  His play has earned him the right to be considered for the All-Star team.  He is a tremendous asset in the field and on the bases.

NL Rookie of the Year - Wade Miley (Diamondbacks) - Wade Miley has been really good in the rotation for the Diamondbacks.  Miley has a 2.19 ERA and a 9-3 record.  He only has 64 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched but has only walked 18 batters.  The competition is pretty weak this year in the NL but he has the numbers to back up this selection.

AL Manager of the Year - Buck Shoelwalter (Orioles) - Nobody could have imagined the Orioles would be 41-31 at this point in the season and just 2.5 games out of the division lead.  The Orioles play in a tough division so can they keep it up will be the question.  Thus far they have gotten great pitching and good production out of their lineup.  The pressure will get bigger as each game passes but right now you have to give Buck the nod.

NL Manager of the Year - Don Mattingly (Dodgers) - There really were a lot of candidates for this spot but I gave it to Mattingly  because of the way his team has played and without their best player.  Matt Kemp was off to a torid start but then suffered a hamstring injury.  Clayton Kershaw has been good but not great and they are still finding ways to win games to the tune of a 43-30 record.